Form Tie Removing Device

ABSTRACT

A device for removing form ties from concrete. The form tie removing device includes a housing having an open first end and a second end, wherein the housing defines an interior volume that can receive a form tie. One or more apertures are positioned along the housing, wherein the apertures allow a user to view the position of the form tie within the interior volume of the housing. A tool bit extends from the second end of the housing, wherein a distal end of the tool bit can be inserted into a power tool, such as a rotary drill or impact driver. In use, a form tie is positioned within the housing and the tool bit is inserted into the power tool. Upon activation of the power tool, the housing rotates and releases the form tie from the surrounding area, such as concrete.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/380,565 filed on Aug. 29, 2016. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to form tie removing devices. More specifically, the present invention provides a form tie removing device having a housing configured to receive a form tie through a first end. A tool bit extends from a second end of the housing, wherein the tool bit is configured to attach to a rotary drill or other impact driver.

Form ties are elongated members used to secure two construction elements together during the construction process. Conventionally, to remove form ties from a concrete wall, an individual, such as a construction worker, uses pliers to grasp and twist the form ties in order to release them from concrete or other similar material. Unfortunately, the twisting motion can cause the worker to injure his or her hand due to grinding their knuckles against the wall. Additionally, form ties can rip from the pressure of the pliers, making them even more difficult to remove from walls. Therefore, there exists a need for a device that can allow a power tool to assist with the removal of form ties from concrete walls.

Devices have been disclosed in the known art that relate to form tie removing devices. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications. These devices generally relate to tools having various shaped heads adapted to be manually used as a lever for removing form ties. These known art devices have several known drawbacks. However, these devices fail to provide a housing having one or more apertures that enable a user to view the positioning of a form tie disposed therein. Further, these devices fail to include a tool bit extending from the housing that is configured to connect to a power tool.

In light of the devices disclosed in the known art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the known art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing form tie removing devices. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of form tie removing devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new form tie removing device wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when removing a form tie from a concrete wall.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved form tie removing device that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. The form tie removing device includes a housing having an open first end and a second end, wherein the housing defines an interior volume configured to receive a form tie. One or more apertures are positioned along the housing, wherein the apertures allow a user to view the position of the form tie within the interior volume of the housing. A tool bit extends from the second end of the housing, wherein a distal end of the tool bit is adapted to be inserted into a power tool, such as a rotary drill or impact driver. In operation, a form tie is positioned within the housing and the tool bit is inserted into the power tool. Upon activation of the power tool, the housing rotates and releases the form tie from the surrounding area, such as concrete.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the form tie removing device and a form tie positioned for insertion into the device.

FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the form tie removing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the form tie removing device. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for removing a form tie from a concrete wall. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a perspective view of the form tie removing device and a form tie positioned for insertion into the device, and a rear view of the form tie removing device, respectively. The form tie removing device 11 includes a housing 12 having a first end 14 and an opposing second end 13, wherein the housing 12 defines an interior volume configured to receive a form tie 60. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 12 comprises a rectangular shaped cross section. However, in alternate embodiments, the housing 12 comprises any suitable shape adapted to receive a form tie 60 within the interior volume thereof. The first end 14 of the housing 12 is open so as to provide access to the interior volume. In the illustrated embodiment, the second end 13 of the housing 12 is closed in order to prevent the form tie 60 from extending through the housing 12.

The housing 12 further includes a front wall 16, a rear wall 21, and one or more sidewalls 15 disposed therebetween. The sidewall 15 forms a separation between the front and rear walls 16, 21 in order to allow a form tie 60 to fit therebetween. One or more apertures 17 are positioned on the front and rear walls 16, 21 of the housing 12. The apertures 17 allow a user to view the position of the form tie 60 when the form tie 60 is inserted within the interior volume of the housing 12. The apertures 22 may be disposed at certain intervals between the first end 14 and second end 13 so as to allow a user to visually inspect the position of the received tie form 60. In alternate embodiments, the apertures are positioned on the sidewalls 15 of the housing 15.

In the illustrated embodiment, the form tie removing device 11 comprises a first aperture 22 disposed on the front wall 16 and a second aperture 23 disposed on the rear wall 21, wherein the first and second apertures 22, 23 are aligned. The alignment of the apertures 22, 23 enable a user to more easily view the positioning of the form tie 60 due to light allowed to enter the interior volume of the housing 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing comprises three pairs of aligned apertures 22, 23, wherein the apertures 22, 23 are positioned diagonally from a corner on the first end 14 of the housing 12 to the opposite corner of the second end 13 of the housing 12. The apertures 17 are disposed at certain intervals from one another.

The form tie removing device 11 comprises a tool bit 19 having a proximal end 18 and a distal end 20. The proximal end 18 of the tool bit 19 extends from the second end 13 of the housing 12. The distal end 20 of the tool bit 19 is configured to be inserted into a power tool, such as a rotary drill or impact driver. In the illustrated embodiment, the proximal end 18 is larger in diameter than the distal end 20 in order to support the weight of the housing 12 when connected to a power tool. The tool bit 19 tapers toward the distal end 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the distal end 20 comprises a six-sided head or hex drill bit adapted to be received by the chuck of a power drill. In alternate embodiments, the distal end 20 comprises any suitable head shape adapted to be received by the chuck of a power tool.

In operation, a form tie 60 is positioned within the housing 12 of the form tie removing device 11. The width of the sidewall 15 of the housing 12, defined between the space between the front wall 16 and rear wall 21, is similar to the width of the form tie 60. Thus, as the device 11 rotates, the form tie 60 rotates along with the housing 12. The distal end 20 of the tool bit 19 is inserted into the power tool. The user determines proper placement of the form tie 60, which is a central position within the housing 12, by viewing through the apertures 17. Upon activation of the power tool, the housing 12 rotates and releases the form tie 60 from the surrounding area, such as concrete.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

I claim: 1) A form tie removing device, comprising: a housing having a first end and a second end, wherein the housing defines an interior volume and the first end is open; a tool bit extending from the second end of the housing, wherein a distal end of the tool bit is configured to be insert into a drill; one or more apertures disposed on the housing. 2) The form tie removing device of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the tool bit comprises a hex drill bit. 3) The form tie removing device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a rectangular cross section. 4) The form tie removing device of claim 1, wherein the one or more apertures comprise a first aperture on a front wall and a second aperture disposed on a rear wall, wherein the first and second apertures are aligned. 5) The form tie removing device of claim 4, wherein the one or more apertures comprise three first apertures and three second apertures disposed between the first end of the housing and the second end of the housing at a fixed interval. 6) The form tie removing device of claim 1, wherein the tool bit is tapered towards the distal end thereof, such that a proximal end of the tool bit comprises a larger diameter than the distal end. 